The Candle

 

Copyright–Renee Heath

This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week. This is a weekly challenge  to write a story in 100 words with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s supposed to follow the picture prompt for the week. The host for the challenge is the talented and gracious author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week the picture is a photo supplied by Renee Heath. Thanks, Renee.

For everyone’s information, I just wanted to add that last week I was having a problem of my comments disappearing from the blogs of other Friday Fictioneers. I went to the Help section of my blog and typed in the problem. A Staffer with the title “timethief” replied and told me to provide links to the posts where my comments disappeared.  She said she would tag the thread for a Staff follow-up and to be patient. I made note of the next several comments of mine that disappeared and gave her the information for the blogs and my URL and email address. I waited for some hours and the problem was solved. I want to thank “timethief” and  the other Staffers of WordPress.

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/2-may-2014/

Genre: Horror Fiction

THE CANDLE by P.S. Joshi

My pal, John, and I were camping.

He said, “Got a ghost story?”

I said, “Yeah, a real one. You know the old Maubry mansion? In ’86 my pal Frank and I snuck out one night and went  there.

“That watchman, Hansen, used to sleep almost every night instead of watching. We looked at the windows and noticed a lighted candle at one. We ran home scared.

“Next day we asked Hansen if anyone ever got in there.

“He said, ‘Nah!’

“Then took us into the room with the candle. That candle was covered with a thick layer of dust.”

‘

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THE CHOICE

 

Copyright–Bjorn Rudberg

 This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week. This is a weekly challenge to write a story in 100 words with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s supposed to follow the picture prompt given for the week. The host for the challenge is the gracious and talented author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week the picture is a photo supplied by Bjorn Rudberg. Thanks, Bjorn.

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/25-april-2014/

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

THE CHOICE by P.S. Joshi

There was once a powerful king who had a beautiful but shy daughter of marriageable age. He decided to hold a dance so that she could meet eligible young men of royal blood.

The night of the dance there was a quartet of musicians who had been hired to play. Also,”married” couples had been invited. The king was no fool.

When the dance ended, the king asked his daughter if she had chosen a husband.

“Yes,” she said. “I have chosen the mandolin player.”

“Don’t fear, sire,” he said. “I am actually Prince Rudolph of the Kingdom of Orchestria.

FULL STOP

Copyright–Adam Ickes

This is my story this month of April for Storybook Corner hosted by Adam Ickes. Each story is supposed to be 300-500 words in length and inspired by the photo prompt given that month by Adam. http://adamickes.workpress.com/2014/04/21/storybook-corner-prompt-april/

FULL STOP by P.S. Joshi

As I barreled down Macklyn Road on my way home, I felt dead tired as usual. I’d worked my tail off putting in overtime at my hardware store in Rayford. I don’t get paid spit as I’m my own boss. Sometimes I wish I was back at Rigbee’s, the big chain store in Cincinnati. The pay was poor but I had regular hours.

Our home is an old remodeled farmhouse at the end of Benson Road that crosses Macklyn. For some doggone reason a fool in the past had the county put a stop sign where the two dirt roads intersect. I figure the guy had influence or it would never have happened. The only purposes the sign serves is to collect money for the county and as a target for hunters in the area. The thing’s like a sieve.

I stopped as it would be just my luck a sheriff’s patrol would be out to check that night. The county uses every excuse it can find to squeeze a few extra bucks out of us. My high beams were on as it was black out as  printer’s  ink. All at once they caught and held somebody standing along side the road.

I slowed to a crawl and thought, “Should I offer help?” The guy looked like hell: torn clothes, blood smears on his face, missing teeth. I stopped and spoke out my open window.

“What’s the matter buddy? Need help?”

He looked dazed. “Where…where am I? I don’t understand. Where’s my wife? She was sitting right beside me in the car. I can’t find her. She might be hurt and I can’t find her.”

“Get in buddy and I’ll take you into town to the sheriff’s office. They’ll send out a search party.”

“I…I don’t know. I hate to leave with her laying out there some place. She could be dying.”

“Get in buddy. You’ll never find her on your own.”

Reluctantly he opened the passenger-side door and climbed in. He looked even worse up close. It was a hot night and I’d shut off the air-conditioner but  felt a chill.

I decided to try and make conversation. “You  from around here?”

“Yeah. We live in the old farm house at the end of Benson Road.”

“Buddy you can’t live there. That’s where my wife and I live. We’ve lived there for five years. It was the old McDermott place.”

He studied my face. “But I’m Mack McDermott. That’s impossible! I know where we live!”

I stiffened. I’d just remembered what I’d been told in town. The McDermott’s had died in a terrible car crash six years before.

I turned to look at my passenger. The seat was empty.

At home, my wife look worried.  “Jack,” she said, “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Still shaky, now sweating, I swallowed hard. “You’ll never believe me.”

THE COSTUME

 

Copyright–Douglas M. Macilroy

This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week. This is a weekly challenge to write a story in 100 words with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s supposed to follow the picture prompt given for the week. The host for the challenge is the talented and gracious author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week the picture prompt is a photo supplied by Douglas M. Macilroy. Thanks Douglas.

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/18-april-2014/

THE COSTUME by P.S. Joshi

Halloween is my son Bradley’s favorite holiday. At the age of ten, this year he decided to wear a costume of his own invention.

I could hear him mumbling to himself as he searched through old junk in the attic. I finally heard him yell.

“Yes!”

He came downstairs carrying his granddad’s old diving helmet.

“This is great!” he shouted, pulling on the helmet. “I’m going outside right now to show my pal, Stuart!”

Suddenly, from outside I heard, “Oh no!” Thud!

I looked out. He was sprawled on the sidewalk, embarrassed but not hurt.

“Better pick something else, Bradley,” I advised.

#Character Archetypes Treasure Troves for #Writers

I’m think this is truly worthwhile information for writers.

Abigail Digby Day

Photo Copyright–DLovering

This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week. This is a weekly challenge to write a story in 100 words with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s supposed to follow the picture prompt given for the week. The host for the challenge is the gracious and talented author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week the picture is a photo supplied by DLovering. Many thanks Dee.

http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/11-april-2014/

Abigail Digby Day by P.S. Joshi

Driving from Boston to Cleveland on vacation last year, I stopped for gas in the tiny village of Pitfall, MA. I noticed decorations, so asked the gas attendant about the occasion.

“Well,” he said after he spit a wad of chewing tobacco on the cement, “it’s Abigail Digby Day.”

“Oh, was she an important person around here?”

“You might say she was a dang scary old bat.” he answered back, eyes watching the pump.”Died in 1969. Said she’d curse us if we didn’t celebrate her birthday yearly. Didn’t in 1970; there was a blasted blizzard in July that year.”

You’re Live, Bob!

  Copyright–Kent Bonham

This is my story for Friday Fictioneers this week.  This is a weekly challenge  to tell a story in 100 words with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s  supposed to follow the picture prompt for the week. The host for the challenge is the talented and gracious author, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week the picture is a photo supplied by Kent Bonham. Thanks Kent.

Link: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/4-april-2014/

YOU’RE LIVE, BOB! by P.S. Joshi

It’d been a hot day under the lights and Bob Doolittle, star of “Monday’s Live With Bob”, was pooped. He turned to his producer and friend, Chad Rich. “Chad, for two cents I’d have told this last audience where to get off. Did you hear their comments? What a bunch of morons! Are audiences getting dumber? Maybe we can pick up a couple of gals who want a good time. What our wives don’t know won’t hurt ’em, huh.”

Just then a technician came on stage. “Sorry. The main camera and sound transmitter were left on. Hope there’s no problem.”

I’m sorry I was late answering some comments and didn’t get to read all the stories last week. My computer has been in the shop for repairs since last Friday until today, Wednesday. I’ll try to do better this week.